Student Mentorship and Partnerships

AID 1964507 · View on Simbli

Agenda Item

b. Update on Student Mentorship Framework ~ Updated 3.9.2026

Summary: Presented by: Triscilla Weaver, Ph.D., Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity and
Dr. Latashia Searcy, Executive Director of Student Mentorship & Partnerships
  Student
Mentorship &
Partnerships
  Growth Begins
 with Connection


                   1
Programs & Total Schools Served
Programs:
  • My Brother's Keeper (MBK)
  • Our Sister's Keeper (OSK)
  • Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Advocates
  • Level Up - Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS)
  • Communities in Schools (CIS)
        2025-2026 DCSD Schools Served Through Mentorship
                Total                       69



                                                           2
Framework Tiers
Level I: Universal
• Supports all students - Grade level or schoolwide (OSK/MBK)
Level II: Targeted
• Supports identified emerging groups of students by 'Securing the B.A.G.': Behavior,
  Attendance, Grades (Level Up/BBBS)
• Community and corporate mentors matched based on location preference and
  school needs
Level III: Intensive
• Supports high needs students facing significant barriers – personalized mentoring
  with frequent & weekly check-ins, SMARTAO goal tracking and parent engagement
  (FACE Advocates, CIS, Level Up/BBBS)
• Placement based on specialized programming and school needs

                                                                                        3
My Brother's/Our Sister's Keeper (MBK & OSK)
Program Focus
To build meaningful relationships between
students and mentors that support academic
achievement, social-emotional growth,
leadership development, and
success through access and opportunity with
the ultimate focus of helping students thrive in
school and life.
Tier I - Universal

                                                   4
MBK & OSK: A Snapshot
        Characteristics                 Meeting Cadence                    Topics/Themes
• $500 Annual Stipend per     •   Meet twice monthly (min.)         •   Accountability
  Champion; $250 Annual           with mentees                      •   Collaboration
  Stipend per Mentor          •   Meetings are reported via         •   Service
• Student-Centered                Chapter Meeting Log               •   Integrity
• Relationship-Driven         •   Champions upload agendas,         •   Leadership
• Focus on Whole-Child            picture artifacts, and attendee   •   Respect
  Development                     sign in sheet                     •   Impact
• Structured & Purposeful                                           •   Innovation
• Leadership & Empowerment-
  Oriented
• Supported by Trained Adults
• Connected to Enrichment
  & Exposure Opportunities



                                                                                           5
MBK Data
                                   2024-2025                       2025 – 2026             Increase
Students                              508                             674                   33%
        School Level               2024-2025                       2025 – 2026             Increase
Elementary School                      15                              18                    20%
Middle School                           7                              9                     29%
High School                             6                              12                   100%
Total                                  28                              39                    39%

                                            Semester 1 (2025-2026)
This data represents                  Behavior                              Avg. Monthly    Courses with
August through         (One or Less Infraction Resulting in OSS)            Attendance     Passing Grades
December, 2025.                        98.22%                                 94.09%           94.76%



                                                                                                            6
OSK Data
                                  2024-2025                   2025 – 2026               Increase
Students                             672                           879                   31%
        School Level              2024-2025                   2025 – 2026               Increase
Elementary School                     18                           26                     44%
Middle School                          7                           12                     71%
High School                            9                           13                     44%
Total                                 34                           51                     50%

                                           Semester 1 (2025-2026)
This data represents                  Behavior                           Avg. Monthly     Courses with
August through         (One or Less Infraction Resulting in OSS)         Attendance      Passing Grades
December, 2025.                        99.58%                               93.96%          93.47%



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Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Advocates
Program Focus
To strengthen the connection between
schools, families, and the community,
and to support emerging students with
'Securing the B. A. G.' (behavior,
attendance, grades).
Tier: III – Intensive
FACE Advocates are DCSD Salaried Employees.


                                                   8
FACE Advocates Support Cycle: A Snapshot
Beginning of Year         Daily                  Weekly               Monthly
    • Introductory           • Student Check-       • Progress           • 1:1 Student
      Parent                   in                     Monitoring           Meetings
      Communication          • Meet with            • Lunch Visits         (Progress
    • Staff Orientation        Students (Brief      • Classroom            Monitoring)
    • Introductory             vs. Extended)          Observations       • Caseload
      Student                                       • Parent               Learning
      Communication                                   Communication        Opportunities
      Meeting




                                                                                           9
FACE Advocates Support Cycle/Snapshot: Continued
                       DHSTN and DHSTS                              Technical                                        Mindset Verbal
FACETYME Programming




                                                                                             Professional Learning
                                             SMP Advocate Support
                       Visits                                       Assistance Support                               De-escalation
                       Fernbank History                             Meetings - 222                                   Every Day Labs
                       Museum                                       Monthly Advocate                                 Practical Ways to Press
                       College Fairs                                Meetings
                                                                                                                     Reset in the Moment
                       College, Technical                           Task Cycle w/the
                                                                    Creation of Monitoring                           The Path to Graduation
                       College, and Trade
                       School Visits                                Tools                                            DOMO
                       Career Explorations                          Friday Drop-in Support                           Wrap-Around Services
                       (Partnership with                            Meetings
                                                                                                                     Financial Literacy for
                       Strategic Media                              Weekly Newsletter                                Students (partnership
                       Enterprises)                                 DOMO                                             with Wealthy Habits)




                                                                                                                                               10
FACE Advocate Data
     School Level              # Schools                  Advocates             Students Participating
Middle                             7
                                                              43                          500
High                              14

                                        Semester 1 (2025-2026)
 This data represents August                   Behavior                    Avg. Monthly     Courses with
  through December, 2025.      (One or Less Infraction Resulting in OSS)   Attendance      Passing Grades
Middle School                                   81%                           91%               88%
High School                                    90%                           85%                 79%
All Students                                  87.6%                         84.9%               84.5%



                                                                                                            11
Level Up: Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS)
Program Focus
To “level up” students’ academic performance,
personal growth, and future readiness by
pairing them with caring adult mentors and
providing intentional, school-aligned support
that helps students thrive.

Framework Tiers: II & III – Targeted, Intensive (1:1)



                                                        12
Level Up: BBBS - A Snapshot
            Characteristics                     Meeting Cadence            Topics/Themes
• Grant-funded                            • Once Weekly Sessions      • Curriculum: Level
• Mentors: 2 per Grade Level (Avg.)       • 1:1 or Group Sessions       Up → 4 Pillars
• Caseload: 6th Grade – 100; 7th          • 5 Students Per Group      • Healthy Choices
  Grade – 200; 8th Grade - 100            • Group Sessions Average    • Vision for the Future
• Looping: Same Littles Yearly              45 minutes to 1 hour      • Sense of Belonging
• Parent Contact: 3x/year minimum         • 1:1 Sessions Average 30   • SEL/Mental Health
  (for Support & Progress)                  Minutes
• Monitoring: Behavior, Attendance,
  Grades (B.A.G.), & GMAS
• Impact Tools: Session Snapshot,
  Youth Outcomes Survey,
  Relationship Survey
• Training: SEL, Restorative Practices,
  Trauma-Informed Care, Mandated
  Report
                                                                                                13
Level Up: BBBS - Data
                               School                         Students Participating
                         Lithonia Middle                              400
                                  6th                                  100
                                  7th                                  200
                                  8th                                  100


                                           Semester 1 (2025-2026)
This data represents                    Behavior                      Avg. Monthly      Courses with
October through        (One or Less Infraction Resulting in OSS)      Attendance       Passing Grades
December, 2025.                          99%                             94.2%             92.9%




                                                                                                        14
Communities in Schools (CIS)
Program Focus
To remove barriers to learning and ensure
students stay in school, engaged, and on
track to graduate by addressing both
academic and non-academic needs.

Framework Tier: III – Intensive (1:1)




                                            15
CIS: A Snapshot
        Characteristics               Meeting Cadence                Topics/Themes
• Grant-funded                • Whole Group Assemblies,        • Based on Short-term
• Campus-based Full-time Site   Schoolwide Anti-Bullying         Interventions,
  Coordinator                   Campaigns                        Resources, and
• Integrated Student Supports • Targeted Meetings with           Supports
• 3 Tiers of Support:           Small Groups of Students,      • Dependent Upon
  1) Schoolwide Services        Positive Interactions During     Student Need(s)
  2) Targeted Programs          School                         • Barrier and Obstacle
  3) Individualized Support   • 1:1 Meetings, Support            Removal Focus
• Needs Assessment              Plans, Home Visits, and        • In School Meeting(s) and
  Conducted                     External Referrals               Supports
• Designed to Remove Barriers                                  • Family Outreach and
  & Obstacles to Ensure                                          Engagement
  Student Success


                                                                                            16
CIS Data
  School Level         # Schools      Students Participating
Elementary                2
                                                283
High                      5



                                             Semester 1 (2025-2026)
This data represents                    Behavior                      Avg. Monthly    Courses with
August through           (One or Less Infraction Resulting in OSS)    Attendance     Passing Grades
December, 2025.                           98.9%                          93%              93%




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Mentoring Community Partners




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Thank you.
Questions?

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